I don't think it's so much using Earth-terms as brand names. Wine is a generic term across most cultures and while the actual word may vary depending on language, the understanding behind it is the same. Bread is a generic term. Fruit is a generic term.
It's the difference between writing "a fizzy drink" or writing "Coke" or "Pepsi". Or writing "bread" versus "X Brand Bread". I think the issue with tater tots is that it's technically a brand name and a specific cultural thing, and even though "tater" itself is pretty generic slang for potatoes in a lot of places, "tater tots" are a very specific type of food.
That's not to say they couldn't exist in the SW universe - because I imagine they would have some type of fried potato food - and there's nothing explicitly wrong with people enjoying a mention of them in the story or finding them out of place, but I think you're going to make mountains of molehills if you apply this reasoning to all Earth-terms versus brand names or specific cultural dishes.
I think it just sounds weird in fan fic or "actual" fiction when things are referred to by their brand names. The Rizzoli & Isles series (the mystery novels not the show) name drop shit every other sentence practically and it drives me nuts.
No one ever says "and then she threw her Louis Vuitton purse at him and broke his Rayband sunglasses because he spilled his Dr. Pepper on her brand new Nikes"
Damn I really want to prompt for a crack 'product placement' story, where everyone's drinking Coke and wearing Levi's and the X-wings all have Motomaster parts.
Tbh, that would be just the most beautiful thing to come out of this shitstorm of a thread. I can just imagine someone playing Candy Crush on their Apple-brand datapad.
PA- A lot of people don't think as tater tots as a brand name, they tend to be called that even when they come from a completely different company or are home made. So it's far more likely the original author might not have even mad the connection to a brand. I'm not from the States originally and that is pretty much the only name I know that side dish as. And it is likely the same for many other people.
And again, my main issue was the rude tone of the comments. As I said when I first tarted reading I was surprised by people using terms like beer. Yet I never once decided the story stopped being valid for things like that. One of my most recent reads even used Guatemalan foods and culture to add to Poe's background, is very much not canon, but it was an unique way to add something to his character that ended up working for the author and readers.
To pretty much tell people not to use things like this because you yourself can't enjoy it, does come across like a douche move. Or telling them they would alienate the majority of the fandom if they do. Which is what I had a problem with. We can only speak for ourselves (we all have our pet peeves after all! for once I can't read stories that are first person POV), when you go around making genetic comments like that then I take issue.
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Re: TFA fics versus other fandom fics
(Anonymous) 2016-02-02 03:07 am (UTC)(link)It's the difference between writing "a fizzy drink" or writing "Coke" or "Pepsi". Or writing "bread" versus "X Brand Bread". I think the issue with tater tots is that it's technically a brand name and a specific cultural thing, and even though "tater" itself is pretty generic slang for potatoes in a lot of places, "tater tots" are a very specific type of food.
That's not to say they couldn't exist in the SW universe - because I imagine they would have some type of fried potato food - and there's nothing explicitly wrong with people enjoying a mention of them in the story or finding them out of place, but I think you're going to make mountains of molehills if you apply this reasoning to all Earth-terms versus brand names or specific cultural dishes.
Re: TFA fics versus other fandom fics
(Anonymous) 2016-02-02 04:09 am (UTC)(link)No one ever says "and then she threw her Louis Vuitton purse at him and broke his Rayband sunglasses because he spilled his Dr. Pepper on her brand new Nikes"
It sounds ridiculous.
Re: TFA fics versus other fandom fics
(Anonymous) 2016-02-02 04:21 am (UTC)(link)Re: TFA fics versus other fandom fics
(Anonymous) 2016-02-02 04:21 am (UTC)(link)Damn I really want to prompt for a crack 'product placement' story, where everyone's drinking Coke and wearing Levi's and the X-wings all have Motomaster parts.
Re: TFA fics versus other fandom fics
(Anonymous) 2016-02-02 09:41 am (UTC)(link)Re: TFA fics versus other fandom fics
(Anonymous) 2016-02-02 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)Re: TFA fics versus other fandom fics
(Anonymous) 2016-02-02 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)Re: TFA fics versus other fandom fics
(Anonymous) 2016-02-02 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)And again, my main issue was the rude tone of the comments. As I said when I first tarted reading I was surprised by people using terms like beer. Yet I never once decided the story stopped being valid for things like that. One of my most recent reads even used Guatemalan foods and culture to add to Poe's background, is very much not canon, but it was an unique way to add something to his character that ended up working for the author and readers.
To pretty much tell people not to use things like this because you yourself can't enjoy it, does come across like a douche move. Or telling them they would alienate the majority of the fandom if they do. Which is what I had a problem with. We can only speak for ourselves (we all have our pet peeves after all! for once I can't read stories that are first person POV), when you go around making genetic comments like that then I take issue.